Sporting Notes in the Far East. 65 



should be passing high up overhead and out of shot, never mind 

 let them have one barrel, as the report will sometimes make them 

 give such a downward swoop, that the second barrel may be 

 successful. 



" Pigeons and Doves " in the East, are a " common quantity " ; 

 ranging from the bonnie little mite of Java, to the big " Green 

 Pigeon " of Borneo. 



In the northern portion of this island the " Argus Pheasant " is 

 also found. But it is extremely rare ; as the outer wing feathers are 

 so prized by the natives, that the birds are not to be seen in every 

 bush. 



" Curlew " are very common throughout the Northern parts of 

 the China coast. But it is off the land of Corea, where they are 

 found in the greatest numbers. Their mournful pipe, as they wing 

 their way across the vast tidal mud flats, which lay off their 

 country's shores, being heard from year's end to year's end. 



Somehow or other, I have always looked upon curlew shooting, 

 as poor and unsatisfactory sport ; especially as after being shot, 

 they are generally too fishy to be acceptable to the table. Of course 

 this objection would only apply to the coast fed birds, and not to 

 the solitary individual that is sometimes knocked over on the wild 

 muirs of Yorkshire or Scotland ; as he, besides being excellent 

 eating, affords a nice variety to the bag of plump red grouse. 

 When curlew are scarce, a sure but cruel way of procuring half 



